Combination swivel hook garment hanger and hook alignment device therefor



June 29, 1965 J. M. ZUCKERMAN COMBINATION SWIVEL HOOK GARMENT HAN GER AND HOOK ALIGNMENT DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 27, 1963 Fla Fla? Has INVENTOR. JACK PfLZUCKERMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,191,770 CQMBHQATIQN SWIVEL HOOK GARMENT HANGER AND HOOK ALIGNMENT DEVICE THEREFOR Jack M. Zuckerman, Elmhurst, N.Y., assignor to Yankee Plastics, Inn, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 304,836 6 Claims. (Cl. 20665) The desideratum of this invention is the resolution of this exasperating problem. Attempts have been made in the past to bundle or Wrap groups of hangers together in an effort to limit their movement and then tape or wrap the swivel hooks together so they will not move. Such solutions have, at times, proved more annoying than the problems they are intended to eliminate because the tapes or wrappings, being necessarily cumbersome, have been difiicult and time consuming to remove.

In carrying forth the purposes of this invention, an object thereof is to provide an extremely simple, yet novel, swivel hook that is connected to the garment hanger in a manner similar to that as in the past, requiring no new method or machines for this purpose.

Accordingly, a feature of the invention resides in the simplicity of construction of the novel swivel hook, which because it is so like in character, but different in construction to known swivel hooks, requires no changes in methods or machines to manufacture.

Another object is the provision of a simple inexpensive alignment device for use in combination with the novel swivel hook to cause the hooks of any number of garment hangers to move into substantially parallel alignment with each other, to maintain them in such position of alignment preventing them from entanglement, and at the same time holding each garment hanger from movement relative to the other.

These features enable the invention to be applied to shipping cartons or containers in which hangers may be more rapidly packed and unpacked in an orderly array.

At such time, until each garment hanger is separated from the alignment device, its hook is retained and prevented from swiveling, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to and loss of garment hangers during shipment as well as obviating the exasperating experience of trying to separate entangled hooks from those of other hangers.

Other and further objects of this invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment hanger in reduced scale and in accordance with the teaching of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a larger composite perspective view of a portion of the garment hanger in FIG. 1 and the hook alignment device,

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of a plurality of garment hangers engaged with the hook alignment device,

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a portion of FIG. 3 taken along lines 44,

FIG. 5 is a cross section of FIG. 4 taken along lines 55,

3,191,770 Patented June 29, 1965 FIG. 6 is a reduced scale perspective view of the novel swivel hook,

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is an end view of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the garment hanger is generally identified by the numeral 10. The garment hanger 10 illustrated in the drawing is of I-bearn construction, a cross section of which is shown in FIG. 2 with the body 12 thereof being fully encompassed about its periphery by a Web 14. The garment hanger may be of standard configuration, the basic details of which are conventional, whereby it comprises a pair of oppositely laterally directed shoulder supports 16, each of which are formed integral with a neck portion 18. The neck portion 18 is generally enlarged to mount a swivel hook 20. It is also provided with an opening 22, the defining walls of which are flat and provide engaging surfaces having a purpose to be described.

Communicating with the walled opening 22 is a vertically directed two-part hole 24. The first part of the hole 24 extends vertically down from the top of the hanger body into the confines of the opening 22. The second part extends into the body 12 of the garment hanger below the opening 22. The body 12 of the hanger is reinforced about the two parts of the hole 24 by vertically spaced bosses 26.

The novel swivel hook comprises a member 20 that is formed of a material of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length. In practice, the hook member 20 is formed of round wire and at one end or top thereof it is provided with the hook shape 28. The hook shape 28 in formed contiguous with a stem 30. The stem 36 is deformed at 32 to result in enlarged surfaces that are different from that of the cross section of the remainder of the wire hook member 20. The deformation .32 results in oppositely disposed fiat enlarged side surfaces 34 on its opposite sides. The surface deformations 34 are directed at an angle that is substantially out of alignment with the direction of the hook shape or formation 28. In practice, the surface deformations 34 are enlarged in position substantially out of alignment with respect to the hook deformation 28 or directed normal thereto.

The swivel hook member 20 is assembled with the garment hanger 10 before the deformation 32 is made. At that time, the complete length of the stem 3% of the swivel hook 20 is of uniform cross section. When in such condition, it is inserted downward through the top first hole 24 at the top of the body 12 to pass downward through the top boss 26 through the opening 22 and vthen into the lower second portion of the hole 24 in the lower boss 26. When so positioned, the stem 30 is then deformed to result in the enlarged opposite side deformations 34.

After the enlarged surface deformations 34 are made and the deformation 32 is formed such that its position is substantially normal to the direction of the hook formation 28, it is thereafter impossible to withdraw or separate the hook member 20 from its mounting in the ,body 12 of the garment hanger without breaking the hanger. The opening 22 now surrounds and encom:

passes the deformation 32 which is at all .times posi tioned within the confines of the opening. The opening numeral 36, is shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. The hook alignment device 36 has an elongated body 38 which is bent .about its middle to form two angularlyrelated sides 40 that are directed toward each other.

Each of the two sides 40 has an aligning edge surface 44. The two sides 3 i 40 are tapered to a point at 46 while the opposite end of the body 38 is enlarged at 48 to form a stop or. head for a purpose to be described. Under normal conditions, when a plurality of garment hangers are positioned in side by side relationship as is depicted in FIG. 2, the swivel hook members 20 are permitted free swiveling movement. In consequence, the hooks 28 thereof become entwined and entangled with each other. They create a greater problem when garments are positioned over the shoulder portions 16 of each hanger because the swiveling of the hooks sometimes catches in the garment fabric tearing the same. Attempts at separation of one garment hanger 10 from the other after thehooks 28 have become entangled is time consuming, and in large stores this consumption of time becomes expensive and sufiiciently exasperating to the extent that the employees separating the hangers often tend to pull them apart with more physical force than is necessary, resulting in losses by breakage of the hangers. The present invention eliminates this problem. When it is desired that a group of hangers are to be placed side by side as shown in FIG. 2, with their respective hooks 28 positioned in the direction of their respective garment hanger bodies 12, the surface deformations 34 will be directed substantially normal to the direction of their respective garment hanger .bodies. Thereafter, in the present invention, the garment hanger bodies 12 are moved relative to the hook alignment device 36, while position,- ing the opening 22 in line with such device. If the hook alignment device 36 is fixed on a wall or in position in a container or traveling trunk or bag, it is the garment hangers that will be moved toward the. aligning device.

However, if the hook aligning device is not physically fixed to some support wall or body, it may be physically moved and inserted into the walled opening 22 surrounding the deformation 32 formed on the swivel hook member 20.

As the hook alignment device 36 and the opening 22.

are moved relative to each other, the pointed tapered end 46 engages an adjacent one of the enlarged side surfaces 34 of the deformation 32 causing the member 20 to swivel so the engaged surface 34 moves parallel to and in the direction of the aligning surface 50. As the surfaces 50 and 34 slide along and relative to each other, the aligning edge surfaces 44 finally move into engagement wtih the fiat defining wall of the opening 22 facing the engaged enlarged side surface 34. The pointed aligning surface 50, formed by the two angularly related sides 40 of the device 36 slides along the engaged side surface 34 of the deformation 32 of the hook member 20 until a three-point engagement is achieved by the device 36 with the wall of the opening 22 of the body 12 of the garment hanger and the engaged surface 34 of the deformation 32. 7

That is to say, the device 36 engages one of the deformed side surfaces 34 along its aligning surface 50 while at the same time, its aligning edge surfaces 44 engage with the defining wall of the opening 22 that faces the side surface 34 of the deformation that is being engaged. When once this three-point engagement occurs between the aligning device 36, and the deformed side surface 34, and the wall of the opening 22, the swivel hook member 20 is prevented from swiveling. The hook formation 28 thereof is thus retained directed in alignment with the body 12 of the garment hanger 10 while the position of the hook formation 28 is substantially normal to that of the direction of the aligned deformation 32 and its engaged surface 34. V n

It should become obvious to those skilled in the art that when a plurality of garment hangers 10 are assembled together on the aligning device 36 as is illustrated in FIGS. .2 to 5, each swivel hook 20 is directed in substantial alignment with the body 12 of its respective garment hanger 10. Each hook 28 is moved into this position by the sequential engagement of the aligning surfaces 50 and 44 with the respective enlarged deformed surface 34 and then with the facing wall of the encompassing opening 22. Each formation 23 is maintained in substantial parallel relation With all the other similarly arranged hook formations 28 while thus engaged by the hook aligning device 36. This parallel. relationship of each hook formation 28 with the other is substantially out of alignment relative to its respective deformation 32 and surface 34 formed on the stem 30 of its respective swivel hook member 20.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any number of garment hangers may be assembled on the hook aligning device 36 depending upon the length of such aligning device. Further, this combination of structure permits any number of such garment hangers, con structed in the manner described, to be packed for shipment or to be mounted in a traveling trunk or bag without fear that the garment hanger hooks 28 will swivel such as to become entwined or engaged with each other. When the present invention is utilized in a traveling trunk or bag, the hook formation 28 is normally engaged on a rod support.

The provision of the aligning device 36 aids such rod support in that it acts as a further support for the weight of the garment mounted on the hangers 10 and, in addition, prevents the hangers from becoming detached from such rod support. Although the hangers can become disengaged from the rod support, they cannot become disengaged from the hook aligning device 36 unless they are physically slid off the pointed end 46 thereof. Once the hook aligning device 36 is positioned within the opening 22 of the hanger body 12, the same cannot be disassembled except in the manner described. Conse quently, the swivel hook 28 of such hanger 19 is mounted always in substantial alignment with the direction of the body 12 of the hanger.

In practice, the three-point engagement afforded by the aligning surfaces 44 and 59 of the hook aligning device 36 has been varied. It has been found that the device 36 can be varied in construction as long as it is positioned between one of the deformed side surfaces 64 of the hook member 20 and the adjacent facing wall of the opening 22 in order to maintain the hook member 28 in its described proper aligned position. Thus, although the disclosure refers to a three-point engagement afforded by the three aligning surfaces 50 and 44, if the device 36 s made as a solid member whereby the two spaced alignmg edge surfaces 44 form but a single aligning wall or surface, the area of such single surface 44 engaging the defining wall of the opening 22 is sufiicient to maintain the engaged surface 34 of the hook member 20 properly aligned when engaged with the aligning surface 50. This results in a two-point engagement, one point of which is between the surfaces 34and 5i), and the other at the alignmg wall or surface 44 engaging with the adjacent defining wall of the opening 22.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. The combination of a garment hanger and alignment means, said a garment hanger comprising a body, a through opening defined in said body, a swivel hook on said body having a stem extending through said opening and a hook projecting upward from said body, an enlarged surface on said stem positioned within the confines of said opening and having a side at an angle substantially normal to the direction of the hook thereof, and

said alignment means including means engaged with said 51 e.

2. The combination of a plurality of garment hangers and an alignment device, said garment hangers each comprising a body having a pair of oppositely directed shoulders, a hook member swivelly mounted on said body between said shoulders and having a hook, an opening defined in said body and through which a portion of said hook member extends, said portion of said hook member extending through said opening being provided with an enlarged surface located in a direction substantially normal to the direction of said hook, said alignment device being engaged in said openings of each of said garment hangers between one side thereof and said enlarged surface, said device having surfaces engaged with said enlarged surface and a defining wall of said opening of each garment hanger.

3. In a combined garment hanger and an alignment device, a plurality of garment hangers each comprising a body and a hook member extending upward from said body, said hook member having a hook formed at one end thereof to support its respective garment hanger and a stem in its other end swivelly mounted in said body, a walled opening in said body, a surface on said stern elongated in a direction substantially normal to the direction of said hook, said surface being encircled within said walled opening defined in said body, and said alignment device moved into said walled openings of each of said garment hangers and including surface means, said surface means being engaged between said stem surface and said walled opening to swivel said hook member of each of said garment hangers to a desired position and maintain the hooks in said desired position.

4. In a combined garment hanger and alignment means, said garment hanger having a swivel hook comprising a hook member being formed of a material of uniform cross section, a hook formed in a given plane at one end thereof, a stem at the other end thereof and contiguous with said hook formation, and a portion of said stem having a surface deformed from that of said uniform cross section and engaged with said alignment means, said surface deformation having a side directed along a plane and being directed at an angle substantially out of alignment with that of said hook formation, the direction of said planar side of said surface deformation being at an angle substantially normal to that of the plane of said hook formation.

5. :In the combination of a garment hanger and an alignment device, said device comprising an elongated member having at least two relatively spaced aligning surfaces, said garment hanger Comprising a body having a hook member projecting upward therefrom, said hook member including a hook formed at one end thereof and the other end thereof including an enlarged surface positinned at an angle out of alignment with respect to the direction of said hook formation, and a wall in said body defining an opening in said body about said enlarged surface of said hook member receiving said elongated member therein and engaged with one of said aligning surfaces of said member and to cause the other of said aligning surfaces of said member to cooperatively engage with said enlarged surface of said hook member to retain said hook member enlarged surface in the direction of that of the cooperatively engaging aligning surface of said elongated member.

6. In the combination of a garment hanger and an aligning device, said device having two relatively spaced elongated aligning surfaces, said garment hanger having a vertically disposed hole defined therein, .a hook member having a stem extending into said hole and mounted on said garment hanger for swivel movement relative thereto, said stem being formed with a guide surface provided along :a portion of the length thereof, said guide surface being larger than said hole to prevent the withdrawal of said hook member from said garment hanger, an opening having walls encompassing said guide surface whereby when the garment hanger and said device are moved relative to each other, said aligning surfaces are received in said opening, one of said aligning surfaces engaging an encompassing wall of said opening, the other of said aligning surfaces engaging said guide surface of said stem to retain the same in the direction of said engaging elongated aligning surface, and said stem guide surface being formed at an angle substantially normal to the direction of said hook of said hook member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,738,979 3/56 Dalton 206- 3,069,054 12/62 Treiman 22392 3,085,724 4/63 Wilde 223- JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

2. THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF GARMENT HANGERS AND AN ALIGNMENT DEVICE, SAID GARMENT HANGERS EACH COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DIRECTED SHOULDERS, A HOOK MEMBER SWIVELLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY BETWEEN SAID SHOULDERS AND HAVING A HOOK, AN OPENING DEFINED IN SAID BODY AND THROUGH WHICH A PORTION OF SAID HOOK MEMBER EXTENDS, SAID PORTION OF SAID HOOK MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ENLARGED SURFACE LOCATED IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF SAID HOOK, SAID ALIGNMENT DEVICE BEING ENGAGED IN SAID OPENINGS OF EACH OF SAID GARMENT HANGERS BETWEEN ONE SIDE THEREOF AND SAID ENLARGED SURFACE, AND DEVICE HAVING SURFACES ENGAGED WITH SAID ENLARGED SURFACE AND A DEFINING WALL OF SAID OPENING OF EACH GARMENT HANGER. 